Device for the contactless three-dimensional inspection of blades for a turbomachine, especially an aircraft turbine or jet engine

ABSTRACT

An inspection device for contactless three-dimensional inspection of a blade for a turbomachine. The device includes at least one first pair of laser measurement modules to scan the blade and a rotational drive to rotate, about the main axis, the blade relative to the modules along the main axis of the blade. The device then rebuilds a three-dimensional virtual representation of the blade using data coming from the scan and performs a dimensional inspection using the three-dimensional representation. Each pair of modules includes a first module oriented towards a first face of the blade and a second module oriented towards a second face of the blade. The modules are oriented relative to the blade so that during rotation, the modules scan the faces of the blade on the entire rim of the blade, and during translation of the blade along the main axis, the faces are scanned throughout their height.

1. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2016/076336, filed Nov. 2, 2018, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and publishedas WO 2017/076853 on May 11, 2017, not in English.

2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is that of dimensional measurements.

The invention relates more particularly to a device for thethree-dimensional contactless inspection of a blade for a turbomachine,for example a jet engine, a turbine a compressor or a pump.

In general, a turbomachine is a machine, a device or an apparatus thatacts on a fluid or that actuates a fluid by means of a rotating element.An exchange of energy takes place between the rotating element rotatingabout its axis of rotation and a fluid in permanent flow. Turbomachinescan be receivers (hydraulic turbines, gas turbines (aircraft engines)for example) or generators (jet engines, aerodynamic turbines,centrifugal pumps, compressors, blowers, pusher propellers for example).

The invention can be applied especially but not exclusively totechniques for the inspection of blades used in aeronautics (to providefor the propulsion of an aircraft for example), in the naval field (forthe propulsion of a ship for example). It can also be applied totechniques for the inspection of blades used in the field of aerodynamicenergy or hydrodynamics (to convert the energy of movement of a fluidinto motor energy).

3. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

We shall strive more particularly here below in this document todescribe the problems and issues existing in the field of aircraft jetengines that have been faced by the inventors of the present patentapplication. The invention is of course not limited to this particularfield of application but is of interest for any technique for theinspection of blades for turbomachines that have to face proximate orsimilar problems and issues.

The blades of jet engines, turbojet engines or again turbines aremechanical elements widely used for aeronautical applications. Theirfunction is to transmit kinetic energy to a fluid (gas) when they arecoupled with a motor, and thus to propel the aircraft.

A turbojet for example is generally formed by a set of blades workingtogether on an axis of rotation axis and disposed in a plane appreciablyperpendicular to this axis. The number of blades varies according to theapplications.

During manufacture, the blades must be made with high precision in theirdimensions or shape and they should be of constant and suitable quality.

It is therefore necessary to provide for dimensional inspection orcontrols for each of these components in order to ascertain that theyare in truly in compliance with the requisite manufacturing tolerancevalues. Such inspection is generally performed on the production lineand involves a certain number of dimensional characteristics.

A classic solution consists in inspecting these components when theycome off the production line, either manually or by using automateddimensional inspection machines such as mechanical sensing machines.These machines are used to acquire the dimensions and a shape of acomponent and then to check it.

However, the visual inspection of the components responds neither tohigh production rates nor to quality requirements in aeronautics asdefects remain difficult to identify with the naked eye.

Mechanical sensing solutions also require a discontinuous inspectionprocess that needs relatively lengthy inspection time. In addition,propeller blades can have a relatively complex shape and profile makingthe inspection process difficult, calling for the use of separatemachines to enable the inspection of all the dimensional characteristicsof these components. In addition, present-day contactless inspectionsystems cannot be used to achieve the precision and production ratesdictated by the manufacturing sector.

It would therefore be desirable to propose an automatic inspectionmachine capable of carrying out precise, reproducible and high-speedchecks on all the dimensional characteristics of blades forturbomachines.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One particular embodiment of the invention proposes a device for thecontactless three-dimensional inspection of a blade for a turbomachine,for example a jet engine, a turbine, a compressor or a pump, said bladecomprising a body extending radially along a main axis between a bladeroot and a blade tip with a defined height, and comprising a first mainface and second main face terminated by a leading edge and a trailingedge. The inspection device is such that it comprises:

-   -   means for scanning said blade, said means for scanning        comprising at least one first pair of laser measurement modules,        and means of rotational driving about the main axis of said        blade relative to the laser measurement modules or vice versa,        and means of driving in translation along the main axis of said        blade relative to the laser measurement modules or vice versa;    -   means for building a three-dimensional virtual representation of        said blade using data coming from said scanning means;    -   means of dimensional inspection using said rebuilt        three-dimensional virtual representation;    -   each pair of laser measurement modules comprising a first module        oriented towards a first face (F_(A)) of said blade and a second        module oriented towards a second face (F_(B)) of a blade;        said laser measurement modules being oriented relative to said        blade so that:    -   during a rotation of said modules or of said blade about the        main axis, said scanning means scan the first and second faces        of said blade on the entire rim of said blade, and    -   during a translation of said modules or of said blade along the        main axis, said scanning means scan the first and second faces        of said blade throughout their height.

Thus, through an ingenious layout of at least one pair of lasermeasurement modules, the three-dimensional inspection device accordingto the invention enables the automatic and contactless performance of afull and precise scan of the entire blade to be inspected. An inspectionof the totality of the dimensional characteristics of the blade can thenbe performed using measurement points derived from the scanning means.

The device can therefore provide for simultaneous motion in rotation andin translation of the blade relative to the laser measurement modules,or vice versa.

Thus, unlike existing solutions, the device according to the inventioncan be used to determine a cloud of measurement points for the blade inthree dimensions, within a few seconds and throughout its surface.Depending on the laser technology embedded in the measuring modules andon the associated method of inspection and of building thethree-dimensional representation, it is possible to carry out aninspection of the blade at very high speeds (a duration of approximatelyone to five seconds).

According to one particular aspect of the invention, each lasermeasurement module comprises a source of emission of a laser beamoriented relative to the main axis and relative to an axis tangential tosaid blade and a laser beam receiver oriented to pick up the laser beamcoming from said blade.

According to one particular characteristic, the laser beam is orientedrelative to the main axis by a first angle ranging from 10 to 45 degreesand relative to the tangential axis by a second angle ranging from 10 to45 degrees.

According to one particular characteristic, the means for driving inrotation and the means for driving in translation are activatedsimultaneously or sequentially.

Thus, it is possible to carry out the scanning operations (and thereforeto acquire measurement points) with simultaneous driving in rotation andin translation of said blade relative to the laser measurement modulesor vice versa and with driving in rotation and driving in translationthat are independent and succeed each other in a pre-established order.

According to one particular characteristic, the modules are providedwith a line-type laser-emitting source.

5. LIST OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention shall appear from thefollowing description given by way of an indicatory and non-exhaustiveexample and from the appended drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective or three-quarter view of a set ofmeasurement modules of a three-dimensional inspection device, accordingto one particular embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the inspection device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B represents a partial and detailed perspective view of theinspection device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2C represents a partial and detailed perspective view of theinspection device illustrated in FIG. 1, from a different perspectivethan FIG. 2B;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the turbine blade subjected to athree-dimensional inspection during a first phase of laser scanning asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the turbine blade subjected to athree-dimensional inspection during a second phase of laser scanning asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the turbine blade subjected to athree-dimensional inspection during a third phase of laser scanning asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the turbine blade subjected to athree-dimensional inspection during a fourth phase of laser scanning asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of the turbine blade subjected to athree-dimensional inspection during a fifth phase of laser scanning asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 3F is a perspective view of the turbine blade subjected to athree-dimensional inspection during a sixth phase of laser scanning asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C;

FIG. 4 presents the schematic structure of a three-dimensionalinspection device in the form of functional blocks, according to oneparticular embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary structure of the inspection device fora particular embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a measurement module during the scanning ofone of the main faces of the blade to be inspected.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In all the figures of the present document, the identical elements aredesignated by one and the same numerical reference.

FIGS. 1, 2A to 2C present the structure and the working of a contactlessthree-dimensional inspection device 1 according to one particularembodiment of the invention. The mechanical component subjected tothree-dimensional inspection here is an aircraft jet engine or turbineblade 5.

Naturally, this is an illustratory example and other types of blades forother applications can of course be envisaged without departing from theframework of the invention.

The blade generally comprises a body 50 extending radially along a mainaxis (Z) between a blade root 51 and a blade tip 52 with a definedheight h and comprising a first and second main faces F_(A) and F_(B)terminated by a leading edge 53 and a trailing edge 54. The first faceF_(A), commonly called the inner face or intrados, has a substantiallyconcave shape and the second face F_(B), commonly called the outer faceor extrados, has a substantially convex shape. The structure of theblade 5 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3A and 3F.

The term “radially” is used because a blade generally consists of a bodyextending radially from the rotation element of the turbine (shaft orhub for example).

The inspection device 1, in the embodiment illustrated here, comprisestwo vertical arms 6A and 6B to hold the blade 5 to be inspected withinthe frame 7 along its main axis Z. The holding arm 6A holds the blade atthe level of its head 51 and the holding arm 6B holds the blade at thelevel of its foot 52. The two holding arms 6A and 6B are in additionmounted so as to be rotationally mobile about the main axis Z relativeto the frame 7 of the device (arrow referenced 30) and mobile intranslation along the main axis Z relative to the frame 7 of the device(arrow referenced 40). To this end, the two holding arms 6A and 6Bco-operate with a dual system of rotational and translational driving(not shown), enabling the blade 5 to be put into rotation and/ortranslation relative to the frame 7 that is fixed to it.

Several physical implementations are possible: for example, the arm 6Bcan co-operate with a system of dual driving in rotation and intranslation and the arm 6A can co-operate with a system of singledriving in translation to guide the blade along its main axis. Forcertain configurations of the blade, it must be noted that only theholding arm 6B is needed to drive the blade in rotation and intranslation.

The arms 6A and 6B and the driving system or systems associated withthem form the means of driving the device according to the invention inrotation and in translation.

Besides, the inspection device 1 according to the invention implementsfour laser measurement modules dedicated to the measurement andinspection of the blade 5: a first pair of laser measurement modules2A-2B dedicated to a first surface measurement of the blade 5 and asecond pair of laser measurement modules 3A-3B dedicated to a secondsurface measurement of the blade 5. More particularly, each pair oflaser measurement modules (2A-2B; 3A-3B) consists of a first module (2A;3A) oriented towards the inner face or intrados F_(A) of the blade 5 anda second module oriented towards the outer face or extrados F_(B) of theblade 5.

Let us consider the axis X as being the axis tangential to the mainfaces and orthogonal to the main axis Z at the level of a measurementline on the blade. Thus, the first modules 2A and 3A are substantiallyinclined upwards relative to the tangential axis X of the blade 5 andthe second modules 2B and 3B are substantially inclined downwardsrelative to the tangential axis X of the blade 5.

Each laser measurement module of each of the two pairs of modules 2A-2Band 3A-3B represented here is fixedly attached to the frame by means ofa support that can be configurable or modulable according to the type ofthe blade to be inspected and its dimensional characteristics. Thisenables each measurement module to be oriented appropriately as afunction of the shape and dimensions of the blade to be inspected. Theorientation of the laser measurement modules 2A-2B, 3A-3B must beadapted to the shape and dimensions of the faces of the blade 5 and thelaser coverage capacity (field of measurement) of the measurementmodules used in the inspection device (the laser coverage caneffectively vary from a few millimeters to a few centimeters dependingon the technology implemented by the measurement modules). An automatedmotor drive of the module supports could be envisaged to provide for areal-time orientation of the modules relative to the surface of theblade.

In the example illustrated here, the laser measurement modules 2A, 2B,3A and 3B are fixed and it is the blade 5 that is mobile in rotation andin translation relative to the main axis Z of the blade 5. Naturally, itis possible to envisage an alternative embodiment in which the blade 5is fixed and in which it is the frame to which the measurement modulesare fixedly attached that is mounted so as to be mobile in rotation andin translation about the main axis Z of the blade 5.

All the laser measurement modules illustrated here as well as the meansof driving in rotation and in translation discussed further aboveconstitute the scanning means of the device according to the invention.The scanning means are associated with means for the processing ofmeasurements acquired by the scanning means (the principle of which isdescribed in detail further below with reference to FIG. 4) to rebuildthe three-dimensional surface of the blade 5 and to carry out adimensional inspection of this blade 5.

According to the invention, the laser measurement modules 2A, 2B, 3A and3B are oriented relative to the blade 5 so that, during a rotation ofthe blade 5 about its main axis Z, the scanning means scan the innerfaces F_(A) and out faces F_(B) on the entire rim of the blade (scanningon the width of the faces F_(A) and F_(B)) and during a translation ofthe blade 5 along its main axis Z, the scanning means scan the outerface or intrados F_(A) and outer face or extrados F_(B) of the blade 5throughout their height h.

FIGS. 3A to 3F represent different phases of the process of laserscanning of the turbine blade 5. FIG. 5 shows a more detailed view ofthe measurement module 2B during the laser scanning of the extradosF_(B) of the turbine blade 5.

The measurement module 2B is, in this example, a laser measurementmodule working according to the principle of laser triangulation. In aknown way, such a measurement module is capable of measuring a distanceby angular computation. It also covers a wide range of measurements andhas high resolution. Known technologies other than laser triangulationcan of course be used without departing from the framework of theinvention. The measurement module 2B comprises a laser emission source21, for example a laser diode that projects a plane laser beam 16 on oneof the faces of the blade to be scanned (here the main face F_(B)) and alaser receiver 22, for example a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) type sensoror CMOS (Complementarity Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) type sensor. Thelaser emission source and the corresponding laser receiver are situatedon the same face of the measurement module, this face being orientedtowards the blade 5.

The other measurement modules 2A, 3A and 3B are preferably identical. Ingeneral, to maximize the laser scanning quality, the measuring modulesof each pair must be of identical technology.

When the scanning phase is activated, the laser beam emitted by thesource is reflected on the face F_(B) of the blade for which it isdesired to know the position or the distance relative to the lasersource (i.e. relative to the measurement module 2B). The laser receiver22 is oriented to pick up the laser beam coming from the blade 5. Thereflected laser beam reaches the receiver 22 at an angle that depends onthe distance. The position of the reflected laser beam on the receiver22 as well as the distance from the source and the receiver to themeasurement module 2B enables the information on distance to be deducedfor each measurement point acquired.

The intersection between the laser beam 16 and the face F_(B) of theblade forms a laser scanning line 18 that moves on the scanned faceF_(B) as and when the blade 5 rotates about its main axis Z as and whenthe blade 5 gets translated along its main axis Z. The scanning of theblade 5 on its rim is provided by the rotation of the blade relative tothe measurement modules about its main axis Z and the scanning of theblade 5 throughout its height is provided by means of the translation ofthe blade 5 relative to the measurement modules.

In general, it can be planned to carry out scanning operations (andtherefore to acquire measurement points) for the turbine blade 5:

-   -   by means of a simultaneous driving in rotation and in        translation of the blade 5 relative to the laser measurement        modules 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (or vice versa) providing for a complete        scanning of the blade 5, or    -   by means of driving in rotation and driving in translation        independent of the blade 5 relative to the laser measurement        modules 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (or vice versa) succeeding each other in        a pre-established order, providing for a full scan of the blade        5.

According to one particular aspect of the invention, the measurementmodule 2B is oriented towards the second face F_(B) so that the laserbeam is inclined upwards relative to the tangential axis X by an angleθx of 10 to 45 degrees (for example 30 degrees) and an angle θz relativeto the main rotation axis Z of 10 to 45 degrees (for example 20degrees). The angles θx and θz depend especially on the angle ofinclination of the face of the blade to be scanned.

The same principle can be applied to the first module 2A of the pair ofmeasurement modules 2A and 2B, the laser beam of said module 2A havingto be tilted downwards relative to the tangential axis X of the angle θxto face the front of the corresponding blade F_(A).

It must be noted that the number of pairs of the measurement modules isnot limited to the example illustrated here above. A greater number(i.e. a number greater than 2) or a smaller number (i.e. a numbersmaller than 2) could be envisaged without departing from the frameworkof the invention, especially depending on the complexity of the shape ofthe blade, the number of measurement points desired and/or theprocessing time desired and/or other parameters that those skilled inthe art will deem it appropriate to take into account.

FIG. 4 now presents the generic characteristics of the three-dimensionalinspection device 10 in the form of functional blocks, according to oneparticular embodiment of the invention.

The inspection device 10 comprises means for scanning the blade to beinspected. These scanning means are provided with laser measurementmodules and driving means as described further above with reference toFIG. 1.

The inspection device 10 comprises means 12 for building a virtualthree-dimensional representation of the blade using data (or measuringpoints) derived from the scanning means 11. To this end, the inspectiondevice 10 implements a software program for processing clouds of pointsand for the virtual three-dimensional representation of the blade to beinspected. The data coming from the modules take the form of clouds ofpoints of co-ordinates defined in a three-dimensional space. The timeneeded to read the points is relatively short (between 1 to 30 millionpoints, depending on the number of measurement modules, are acquired ina time span of one second to five seconds). In general, a single360-degree rotation of the blade (at the altitude where a measurement ofthe blade is necessary) is enough to acquire all the measuring pointsneeded for the three-dimensional rebuilding and the dimensionalinspection of the component.

The inspection device 10 comprises means 13 of dimensional inspection ofthe blade according to the virtual three-dimensional representationobtained by the building means 12. The inspection means 13 areconfigured to deliver 14 at least one quantity representing a dimensionof the blade or a piece of information accepting or rejecting thecomponent subjected to inspection according to the result of theinspection made by the inspection means 13 (compliance or non-compliancewith dictated dimensional and/or geometrical tolerance values, etc.).

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary structure of the inspection device 10for a particular embodiment. The inspection device 10 includes at leastone non-transitory computer-readable medium 150 and a processor unit160, e.g. having a microprocessor μP, which is controlled by codeinstructions of a computer program 170, which is stored on medium 150.When executed by the processing unit 160, the code instructionsconfigure the inspection device 10 to perform and control a contactlessthree-dimensional inspection as described herein, such as the functionalblocks shown in FIG. 4.

Such an inspection device can easily be integrated into a productionline.

Thus, the device according to the invention enables an automatic,complete and contactless inspection of a turbine blade for an aircraftand more generally for a turbomachine capable of having different shapesand dimensions.

Finally, in order to determine the position of the main axis of theblade, the inspection device 1 can provide for the presence of one ormore additional measurement modules 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, disposed fixedlyrelative to the frame 7 and perpendicular to the holding arms 6A and 6B.This is obtained by activating the means for driving the blade 5 inrotation and in translation so as to scan the surface of the holdingarms 6A and 6B respectively throughout their rim and at a given height.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure overcomes the variousdrawbacks of these prior art techniques of dimensional measurement andinspection.

More specifically, an exemplary embodiment provides a three-dimensionalinspection device that enables, contactless, complete, automatic,dimensional inspection of blades for turbomachines.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to oneor more examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changesmay be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of thedisclosure and/or the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An inspection device for contactlessthree-dimensional inspection of a blade for a turbomachine, said bladecomprising a body extending radially along a main axis between a bladeroot and a blade tip with a defined height, and comprising a first mainface and a second main face terminated by a leading edge and a trailingedge, said inspection device comprising: at least one pair of lasermeasurement devices configured to acquire measurement points on theblade; a rotational drive, which rotationally drives, about the mainaxis, said blade relative to the laser measurement devices or viceversa, a translational drive, which drives, in translation along themain axis, said blade relative to the laser measurement devices or viceversa; a data processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable mediumcomprising software instructions stored thereon, which when executed bythe data processor configure the data processor to perform actscomprising: building a three-dimensional virtual representation of saidblade using said measurement points coming from said at least one pairof laser measurement devices; dimensionally inspecting using saidrebuilt three-dimensional virtual representation to produce aninspection result; each pair of laser measurement devices comprising afirst laser measurement device configured to acquire measurement pointson a first face of said blade and a second laser measurement deviceconfigured to acquire measurement points on a second face of said blade;said laser measurement devices being oriented relative to said blade sothat: during a rotation, by said rotational drive, of said lasermeasurement devices or of said blade about the main axis, said lasermeasurement devices acquire measurement points on the first and secondfaces of said blade on an entire rim of said blade, and during atranslation, by said translational drive, of said laser measurementdevices or of said blade along the main axis, said laser measurementdevices acquire measurement points on the first and second faces of saidblade throughout their height.
 2. The inspection device according toclaim 1, wherein each laser measurement device comprises a source ofemission of a laser beam oriented relative to the main axis and relativeto a tangential axis of said blade and a laser beam receiver oriented topick up the laser beam coming from said blade.
 3. The inspection deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the laser beam is oriented relative to themain axis by a first angle ranging from 10 to 45 degrees and relative tothe tangential axis by a second angle ranging from 10 to 45 degrees. 4.The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the rotational driveand the translational drive are activated simultaneously orsequentially.
 5. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein thelaser measurement devices are provided with a line-type laser emittingsource.